The Odisha government has roped in eminent surgeons, including president, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) Prof. K. Srinath Reddy, vice-chairman and managing director of the Asian Heart Institute and Research Centre Ramakanta Panda and chairman and founder of Narayana Health Devi Prasad Shetty to suggest measures for tackling the third wave of Covid-19 that is expected to hit the state and the country after the current wave.
The state government on Saturday constituted the high-powered advisory committee under the chairmanship of Prof. K. Srinath Reddy.
Chief secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said: “Scientists, eminent doctors, surgeons are included in the committee. They would suggest measures on how to fight with the corona pandemic in its third wave. The committee will also suggest measures to streamline the ongoing vaccination drive.”
Mohapatra also said that as per the cabinet decision, the state has floated a global tender to purchase 3.8 crore vaccine doses.
“If the bidding is successful, the state will get all the vaccines by May 28,” he said.
The other eminent doctors of the advisory committee are Dr Subrat Acharya, Prof Dutteswara Hota, Prof M.R. Patnaik, Prof E. Venkateswar Rao, Dr Sanghamitra Pati and Dr Ajaya Parida. Director, Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET)
Dr C.B.K. Mohanty will act as convener of the advisory committee.
Sources revealed that the Odisha government would go for extension of the lockdown further which ends on May 19 as there is no sign of decline of corona cases in the state.
Meanwhile, the number of Covid cases in Odisha surpassed 6.12 lakh marks on Sunday with report of another 11,713 fresh cases. So far 2,313 people have succumbed to the disease.
Following complaints about the poor treatment being provided to corona patients in hospitals, resulting in the rise in death cases, the state health department has constituted four special squads that would inspect private hospitals and examine the number of ICU beds available.
“It would also examine whether patients who need ICU beds are being provided the beds in time or not,” officials said.
